The Cold War was not an actual war at all. It was a period of technological, ideological, and economic competition between the United States and the Soviet Union. It lasted from 1947 to 1989, followed by the end of communism in the Soviet Union in 1991. No fighting occurred, as the war instead was basically an arms race involving both conventional and nuclear weapons, as well as propaganda and economical warfare that led to both positive and negative effects in both countries.

Tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union were put on hold during WWII, but resumed once it was over. The two main causes of tension were Communist ideology and Russia wanting to gain more territory. The two superpowers had been rivals since the czarist years. They had a sort of truce, but were not very friendly. 1947, the Marshall Plan was created to help the recovery in Europe.

English: John F. Kennedy meeting with Nikita Khrus...

Nikita Khrushchev, leader of the Union of Soviet S...

English: US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet Gen...

This plan was known officially as the European Recover Program following its enactment. It was created to aid European States in reconstruction if certain requirements, such as making political reforms and accept some outside controls. However, the Soviet Union refused outside help.

The Soviet Union stated that "It may be noted that France has it's own economic plan ...Great Britain also has it's own economic program. It is widely noted that in the Soviet Union the basis of the ... restoration of the economy is the is the state socialist plan." (Statement of Position of the Soviet Government 5). The Soviets blocked access to Berlin, which was under four-power control despite being in Soviet Territory. However, supplies were snuck in anyway by air. Eventually, the blockade was lifted.

In 1953, Dwight Eisenhower was sworn in as president of the USA. Not much changed in the U.S.. However, when Nikita...

More The Cold War essays:

Positive and Negative Effects of The Cold War on Germany When looking at the Cold War most everyone begins to think about the United States and the Soviet Union. Even though these were the major countries that brought it up there are also other countries that people sometimes leave out of the ...

... and therefore restrained from attacking one another. The situation was officially known as (MAD) Mutually Assured Destruction (CNN, Cold War). One of the most tense periods of the war can be defined as the Cuban Missile Crisis. This is when the Soviets, under the order of Nikita Khrushchev ...

... and was not the kind to back down. The crisis also marked the closest point that the world had ever come to global nuclear war. It is generally believed that the Soviets' humiliation in Cuba played an important part in Khrushchev's fall from power in October 1964 and in the Soviet Union ...

... the Cold War and the world at large than just casualties: The US defense budget increased from $14 billion in 1951 to $54 billion in 1953 (Warren 78). The Soviet Union failed to communize all of Korea, which was a setback for them and a victory for the US and ...

... and the Soviet leader was Nikita Khrushchev. The Hungarians had a revolution; which lasted for 12 days before the Soviets literally crushed it with tanks and strong military support. The Soviet response of tanks and military might scared all the Soviet satellites, in perhaps the saddest moment in ...

... the U.S. felt threatened and violated. "The Cold War was an extended conflict between the communist states led by the Soviet Union and the western states led by the United States, which lasted from 1945 to 1990. The struggle had political, ideological, military, and economic ...

4 pages3093Jun/20024.8

Students & Profs. say about us:

"Good news: you can turn to other's writing help. WriteWork has over 100,000 sample papers"